Herdsmen force teachers, pupils to abandon school in Edo

HERDSMEN, on Tuesday, led their cows into a primary school on the outskirts of Benin City, Edo State, forcing teachers and pupils to abandon academic activities.

It was gathered that the herdsmen gained free access to Ohovbe Primary School in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of the state, as the school did not have fence.

They were also said to have camped their cows inside one of the classrooms because of the unfavourable weather.

The incident was said to have lasted about one hour before cows were later taken out of the classroom.

A resident of the area said the herdsmen had turned the school into a grazing land, while he decried the state of the classrooms, many of which had no windows and doors.

Some teachers, who did not want to be named, lamented that the staff and pupils of the school had been subjected to the deplorable condition for many months.

They also alleged though the activities of the herdsmen had been reported to the State Universal Basic Education Authority, but nothing had been done to solve the problem.

The head of the State Universal Basic Education (SUBEB), Mallam Suleman Ali, could not be reached to speak on the matter.